Today's readings are 1 Kings 11.42-12.19 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Kings+11.42-12.19 ) and 2 Corinthians 7.1-16.
Where do we stand as Christians regarding the requirements of God and the grace of God? 1 Corinthians 7.1 (ESV) sums it up very well. "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." We are recipients of the promises of God. He has promised us life, hope, a sure coming inheritance, provision for our every need. And it is all a matter of promise, not a matter of something we might have if we work hard enough. It is all of God's grace. Our Savior Jesus Christ has done all the work. "Since we have these promises." But we do something then. We pursue holiness. When the Lord redeems people, when he changes their hearts, when he makes those who were his enemies into his people, they have a desire to do the works that are pleasing to him. So how does Paul summarize what is pleasing to God? We are to cleanse ourselves. We bring holiness to completion. Now how are we going to do that? When we look at the demands of God's holiness we must admit, and admit quickly, that we cannot bring holiness to completion. So our good works, our attempts at living a holy life which is pleasing to God, bring us daily face to face with two realities. Let's meditate on those two realities today.
1) Both our Lord and we ourselves want to do good works, to live a holy life.
2) When we see this desire and our failing we look yet again upon our blessed Savior who gave us the desire and lived out that holiness in our place.
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